Principles of neutron reflection

Neutron reflection is perhaps the most developed branch of slow neutrons optics, which in itself is a direct consequence of the undulatory nature of the neutron. After reviewing the basic types of interactions (nuclear and magnetic) between neutrons and matter, the formalism is introduced to calculate the reflectivity from a sample composed of stacked flat layers and, inversely, to calculate the stacking from reflectivity measurements. Finally, a brief survey of the applications of neutron reflection is given, both in technology and in fundamental research. 32 refs., 6 figs

Distribution of parallel vortices studied by spin-polarized neutron reflectivity and magnetization

We present the studies of non-uniformly distributed vortices in Nb/Al multilayers at applied field near parallel to film surface by using spin-polarized neutron reflectivity (SPNR) and DC magnetization measurements. We have observed peaks above the lower critical field, Hc1, in the M-H curves from the multilayers. Previous works with a model calculation of minimizing Gibbs free energy have suggested that the peaks could be ascribed to vortex line transitions for spatial commensuration in a thin film superconductor. In order to directly determine the distribution of vortices, we performed SPNR measurements on the multilayer and found that the distribution and density of vortices are different at ascending and descending fields. At ascending 2000 Oe which is just below the first peak in the M-H curve, SPNR shows that vortices are mostly localized near a middle line of the film meanwhile the vortices are distributed in broader region at the descending 2000 Oe. That is related to the observation of more vortices trapped at the descending field. As the applied field is sightly tilted (< 3.5degree), we observe another peak at a smaller field. The peak position is consistent with the parallel lower critical field (Hc1||). We discuss that the vortices run along the applied field below Hc1|| and rotate parallel to the surface at Hc1||.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figure

Industrial applications of neutron diffraction

Neutron diffraction (or, to be more general, neutron scattering) is a most versatile and universal tool, which has been widely employed to probe the structure, the dynamics and the magnetism of condensed matter. Traditionally used for fundamental research in solid state physics, this technique more recently has been applied to problems of immediate industrial interest, as illustrated in examples covering the main fields of endeavour. 14 refs., 14 figs

Study of magnetism at surfaces by scattering of neutrons at grazing incidence

Neutrons can provide information on magnetic phenomena at surfaces. The simplest experiment involves the measurement of the reflectivity of a well-collimated beam from the surface, as a function either of the neutron wavelength or of the angle of incidence theta/sub i/. Using polarized neutrons, the spin-dependent reflectivity of a magnetically-active material can determine the depth profile of the magnetic induction B. A prototype instrument at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source at Argonne has already demonstrated the feasibility of this technique in determining the penetration depth of an external magnetic field in superconductors. Further experiments are being planned to study the magnetic disturbances close to the surface of ferromagnets; a first experiment on films of iron oxides showed a remarkable change of the magnetic depth profile with increasing oxidation

Superparamagnetic relaxation of Fe deposited on MgO(001)

Superparamagnetic behavior is investigated for Fe grown at 700 K onto MgO(001) to a thickness equivalent to that of a ten monolayer film. Two such Fe deposits separated by a 200-Å deposit of MgO exhibit a ferromagnetic response with no hysteresis at either 300 or 150 K, but with identical reduced magnetization curves M(H/T) which confirms the existence of superparamagnetism. M(H) data at 300 K were fitted to a Langevin function to yield an average particle size of 100 Å diameter. M(T) for field-cooled and zero-field-cooled samples shows behavior characteristic of superparamagnetic particles with a distribution in particle size. Time-dependent remanent magnetization data measured over a 20 h period at various temperatures show nonexponential decay attributed to the distribution in particle size and interactions among the particles

Magnetism of thin film multilayers: An analogue of interacting platelets

Progress is being made toward manufacturing materials with magnetic properties tailored to the desired application. This result is reached in several steps, which are monitored with different optical techniques such as polarized neutron reflectometry. First, ferromagnetic, metallic films (of Fe, Co, Ni, Gd), a few nanometers thick, are prepared by vapor deposition. Their magnetization can be tuned by changing the chemistry of thickness of the films, and can be biased by embedding the films into a matrix of antiferromagnetic material. Ensembles of metallic films (multilayers of superlattices) can be created, with a magnetic coupling between adjacent layers regulated by the nature and thickness of the spacer. For increasing spacer thickness, the alignment of neighboring magnetic layers switches between a parallel (F) and an opposite arrangement (AF) in an oscillatory manner. In multilayer structures possessing more than one kind of magnetic atom complex magnetic phase diagrams have been predicted to occur, with properties that are strongly influenced by the presence of a surface. With these characteristics, the phenomenology of magnetic multilayers draws a close similarity to the physics of interacting platelets

Ferromagnetic Domain Distribution in Thin Films During Magnetization Reversal

We have shown that polarized neutron reflectometry can determine in a model-free way not only the mean magnetization of a ferromagnetic thin film at any point of a hysteresis cycle, but also the mean square dispersion of the magnetization vectors of its lateral domains. This technique is applied to elucidate the mechanism of the magnetization reversal of an exchange-biased Co/CoO bilayer. The reversal process above the blocking temperature is governed by uniaxial domain switching, while below the blocking temperature the reversal of magnetization for the trained sample takes place with substantial domain rotation

Analysis of magnetic neutron scattering data

The determination of the proper magnetic form factors for use in the analysis of diffuse-scattering data is discussed, and that information which is immediately available from such data is considered. Apparent discrepancies between the results of diffuse scattering and diffraction experiments on ferromagnetic Ni-Cu alloys are resolved. It is shown that the data indicate that the negative spin density usually attributed to conduction electrons instead arises largely from the overlap of localized wavefunctions, as was first suggested by Moon. 3 figures. (auth

A NEUTRON REFLECTION TEST OF THE 'REPTATION TIME'

Two chemically similar polymers in contact at a temperature above the glass transition interdiffuse with a concentration profile which, for times shorter than a ''reptation time,'' is thought to remain discontinuous at the interface. It is shown how the size of the concentration gap can be systematically tested by neutron reflection from bilayers of deuterated/protonated polymers. 6 refs., 2 figs